Volunteers serve tasty meals for residents in need (8 photos)

For the first time in three years, a hardworking team of volunteers helped fill lots of empty bellies at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church on Sunday.

Residents in need socialized and had some coffee prior to enjoying a tasty dinner that included ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, and mixed vegetables.

They also served up a wide assortment of desserts and treats that were donated to the church.

Nearly all the volunteers are with St. Faustina’s Devine Mercy Mission, and their team recently got a trailer that they intend to serve food out of for the city’s more vulnerable groups in the coming months.

Volunteer Ricky Burton says the team worked hard on Saturday to prepare for this evening’s meal, and explains their efforts were well worth it, considering the challenging times many residents find themselves in.

“It’s really rewarding,” he says. “We’re trying to give people a little bit of hope. It’s great to feed them, but especially with the way COVID has gone, a lot of people have lost hope.”

While his team didn’t serve the upwards of 200 guests they had initially prepared for, Burton says the extra food will still go to good use as they intend on donating the leftovers to Pauline’s Place and St. Vincent Place.